Astros Go To Bat For 2nd Season Fanfare To Accompany Opening Game Tonight

April 11, 1986|By Michael Griffin of The Sentinel Staff

KISSIMMEE — The Osceola Astros launch their second season today with a match-up against the Daytona Beach Islanders, capping an opening day extravaganza.

The Orlando Sentinel is sponsoring ''A Night at the Stadium'' with free admission to the game, free hot-air balloon rides, a pre-game show and a special performance of the national anthem by the county's high school bands.

A coupon published in today's paper is good for free admission for the entire family. There will be plenty of copies of the newspaper at the stadium. Things will get rolling at 5 p.m. when the gates open and a baseball-shaped balloon -- the only one of its kind in the country -- sets down. Tethered rides above Osceola County Stadium are free. The first 50 people through the gate will get free Astros T-shirts.

Game time is 6:30 p.m. Former Oakland A's star Bert Campaneris will throw strikes for a few of Osceola County's most recognizable folks. Campaneris, now a Houston Astros minor-league instructor, was shortstop on three World Championship teams.

He will be pitching to county Commissioner Larry Whaley, St. Cloud Mayor Bob Renick, school board Chairwoman Karen Kerr, county teacher-of-the-year Candace Parker and St. Cloud High School power hitter Bobby Kiser -- Florida's all-time homerun king.

Prizes from local attractions and restaurants will be given away throughout the contest.

The Class A Astros were Central Division champions last year in the Florida State League with a 74-57 record and were out of first place only one day all season. They lost their bid for the league pennant to the Fort Lauderdale Yankees who went on to lose the FSL championship against the Fort Myers Royals.